Sea Dogs Return to Winning Ways on Road
Published on October 14, 2011 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release
ROUYN-NORANDA, Que. - After coming out flat in their last two Quebec Major Junior Hockey League road games, the Saint John Sea Dogs responded in a big way, beating the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 9-4 Friday.
Sea Dogs Head Coach Gerard Gallant challenged his team to be better after Wednesday's 5-1 loss in Gatineau, and the team answered the call early and often. Danick Gauthier finished with a hat trick, Aidan Kelly had two goals and Jonathan Huberdeau chipped in a goal and two assists in his first game as captain. Ryan Tesink also had a goal and two assists, Zack Phillips notched a goal and a helper, and Olvier Cooper tallied a single. Stephen MacAulay and Pierre Durepos had two assists each and Sebastien Auger - making just his third career start - made 22 saves for the win in goal as the Sea Dogs improved to 8-5.
Denis Kamaev scored twice and added an assist for Rouyn-Noranda. Mathieu Brisebois and Antoine Quevillon rounded out the scoring. Robin Gusse allowed seven goals on 26 shots and was tagged with the loss in goal as the Huskies fell to 5-7-1-0. Jeffrey Noonan allowed two goals on 13 shots in relief.
Click HERE to view a complete scoresheet from Friday's game. For interviews and highlights, visit Sea Dogs TV, the team's official YouTube channel.
Phillips scored on a power play just 25 seconds in and the Sea Dogs never looked back. The Minnesota Wild prospect collected a bounce off the back boards from a Huberdeau shoot-in and deposited it for his fifth of the season. Durepos picked up the other assist on the play.
Saint John got into penalty trouble with three straight minors, but Auger and the Sea Dogs penalty killers stood tall. The Sea Dogs even managed to score short-handed when Huberdeau found Aidan Kelly in the open to set up the Saint John native's first of the night at 9:35.
The Huskies did scratch out a power-play marker off the stick of Brisebois on a two-man advantage, but Gauthier restored the two-goal lead at 16:29. Just as a Saint John power play expired, Tesink came down the left wing on a 2-on-1 with Gauthier and centered to the 20-year-old forward, who finished his first of the night.
Gauthier got another one on a nice passing play with MacAulay, who sprung him behind the Huskies defence. Gauthier roofed the finish at 1:22 of the second, with the other assist going to Tesink. Then with an extra attacker on for a delayed penalty, Gauthier wrapped up the hat trick at 10:43. Tomas Jurco and Kevin Gagne assisted on the goal, Gauthier's 10th, which gave him his second hat trick of the season - and his career.
Exactly two minutes later, Cooper jammed one home out of a goalmouth scramble to make it 6-1. MacAulay had a whack at it and got an assist on the rookie's fourth goal, and Nathan Beaulieu picked up the other helper. Kelly then ran the lead to 7-1 on another power play at 13:52 of the second, taking a feed from Durepos and ripping it through a defender and the goaltender. Cameron got the other assist on Kelly's third of the year, which spelled the end of the night for Gusse. The Sea Dogs held a 14-4 edge in shots in the second period.
The Huskies gave Saint John a scare in the third, scoring three goals in 1:40 to get as close at 7-4 But Huberdeau beat Noonan with a backhander, at 12:48 to quell the uprising and let the Sea Dogs breathe a little easier. Phillips picked up the lone assist on Huberdeau's second of the season. Tesink fired home a wrist shot at 16:55 to complete the summary. The unassisted marker was the fourth of the season for the Saint John sophomore.
Saint John's road trip wraps up against the Val-d'Or Foreurs Saturday, an 8 p.m. puck drop. Tim Roszell will have the call on News 88.9 FM. Fans can also catch all the action online via the official TELUS QMJHL webcast (click HERE to order; charges apply).
Saint John's next home game is the Pink in the Rink Night Oct. 22 against the Prince Edward Island Rocket. The Sea Dogs will play in special pink jerseys, which will be auctioned directly off the players' backs. Proceeds from the jersey auction will go towards breast cancer research.
Tickets are available at the Harbour Station box office, by calling 506-657-1234 or online at www.tickets.harbourstation.ca.
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from October 14, 2011
- Sea Dogs Return to Winning Ways on Road - Saint John Sea Dogs
- Cataractes and Armada Make Trade - QMJHL
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